Scissor sharpening or like device



Sept. 18, 1945. D. L IAFRATE scIssoR summum@ oR'LxE Devrais Filed Nov) 7, 1944 Fig. 4

[r/elliot YomefmicL Iafrafe BJasjuM? Ao nqys i Patented Sept. 18, 1945 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sclsson SHARPENING on LIKE DEVICE Domenic L. Iafrate, Newton, Mass. l

Application November 7, 1944, serial No. 562,290 4 claims. (C1. vs -82.2)

This invention relates to scissor sharpening or like devices.

Many attempts have been made to provide a suitable device by which scissors may be easily and accurately sharpened. Such proposals have not been successful because the proposed structures were expensive to make and were not adapted for easy and accurate operation.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a device wh'ich consists of a base slidably supporting a sharpening element and which has a support adjacent one of its ends. A universally adjustable clamp to hold the scissors so that one of its blades is in a desired position is pivotally mounted on that support. I spring tension the clamp to resiliently hold the blade in contact with the sharpening element as it is reciprocated along its length. Preferably the base has an adjustable stop to limit the travel of the sharpening element in relation to its length. Preferably the base is in the form of a frame so that the support may be pivotally attached thereto to combine lightness in Weight with compactness of storage.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown an lembodiment -of my invention from which its novel features and advantages will be readily apparent. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a scissor sharpening device in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2' is a plan view of the device of Fig. l, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are partly sectioned views along the lines 3-3, and 4--4, respectively, of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, a scissor sharpening device in accordance with my invention h'as a base generally indicated at 5, preferably in the form of a rectangular frame having end Walls 6 and side walls 'I.

Attached to the base is a manually engageable slide, generally indicated at` 8. The slide 8 consists of a block 9 cut away as at I0 to enter between the side walls 1 of the base 5 and is slidably attached thereto by a cap II, attached to the block by screws I 2. The sharpening element may be of any type, but is shown as a le I3 attach'ed to a support I4 pivotally connected as at I5 to the ends of the block 9. The le (see Fig. 2) may conveniently have its ridges or rows of teeth disposed at such an angle that the edge of the blade is subjected to a lateral sharpening action as the slide 8 is reciprocated;

Attached to the base 5 is a support I6. Preferably I pivotally attach the support I6 as at I'I to th'e interior surface of one end wall 6 adjacent one of the side walls 'I.

, I pivotally attach a clamp I8 to the end of the support I6 which clamp receives the ball end I9 of the clamp 20 so that it may be universally adjusted. The clamp 20 is adapted 'to clamp the scissors indicated at 2| with one of its blades in a position such that its edge to be sharpened is resiliently held against the sharpening element I3 by the spring 22 anchored to the support I6 and to the clamp I8. I preferably form the clamp 20 with apertures 23 to receive the ends of the attaching means which interconnect the blades. As indicated in Fig. 2, when my sharpening device is not in use, the support I6, with' the clamps I8 and 2U, may be pivoted into the recess established by the side and end walls of the base 5 so that the device may be compactly stored.

In my invention, the blade of the scissors 2| is resiliently urged against the sharpening element I3 to facilitate the sharpening of scissors of different size and to provide a desired pressure of the blade against the sharpening element. AS blades vary in length, I provide an adjustable stop 24 to limit the stroke of the slide 8. As may be seen most clearly in Fig. 4, the stop 24 may consist of a block 25 cut away to enter between the side walls 'I and a cap 26. Both of these are apertured to receive a bolt 21 threaded on which is a wing nut 28 so that the stop.may be loosened and slid along the base 5 and locked thereto in a position to prevent the slide from moving suiciently far to let the tip of the blade disengage the sharpening element I3.

In accordance with my invention, the scissors are clamped in the clamp 20 and the clamp I8 is adjusted to present the blade at the right angle to and diagonally with respect to the sharpening element I3 for the proper treatment of its cutting edge. Th'e stop '24 is thus adjusted and the slide is reciprocated the length of the block with accurate and uniform sharpening being insured. Blades of scissors are frequently not straight-edges, but in accordance with my invention these may be accurately sharpened as the blade is resiliently pressed against the sharpening element and the sharpening element is pivotally supported by the slide 8,

My invention, therefore, provides simple and inexpensive means by which the blades of scissors or the like may be quickly, easily, and accurately sharpened.

What I' therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for use in sharpening scissors or the like, said device comprising a base, a slide supported by said base, a sharpening element on said slide, a support attached to said base adjacent one of its ends, a universally adjustable clamp pivotally attached to said support to clamp the scissors with one of its blades in a predetermined position relative to said element, and a spring connected to said clamp and to said support to bring said blade into contact with' said element so that said blade may be treated as said slide is reciprocated.

2. A device for use in sharpeningscissors or the like, said; devi-ce comprising a base, Va slide sup'- ported byy saidl base, "a sharpening elennt on said slide, a support attached to said base adjacent one of its ends, a universally adjustable clamp pivotally attached to said support to clamp the scissors With one of its blades in a predetermined position relative to said element, a spring connected to said clamp and to said support to bring said blade into contact with said element s0 that said blade may be treated as said slide is reciprocated, and adjustable stop means carried by v*said base adjacent its other end to limit the movement of said slide away from said support in relation to the length of the 'blade being sharpened. Y

3. The device of claim l, in which the sharpening element has a flat face and is pivotally connected to the slide.

Y 4. A device for use in sharpening scissors or the like, said device comprising a frame having an elongated open space thereinLa slide supported by said frame, a sharpening element on said slide, a support pivotally attached to said frame adjacent one of its ends t0 be pivoted from an inoperative position in said space rinto a depending operative position, universally adjustable clar'np pivotally attached to said supportto clamp the scissors with one of its blades in a predetermined position relative to said element, a spring -connected to said clamp and t0 said support to bring said blade into contact with said element so that said blade may be treated as said slide is .reciprocated and adjustable stop means carried by Said frame adjacent its other end to limit the movement of said slide away from said support in relation to the length of the blade .being sharpened.

DOMENIC L. IAFRATE'. 

